Biography of Justice Melissa Crane

Justice Melissa A. Crane was elected to the New York State Supreme Court, County of New York on November 3, 2020 and was appointed to the New York County Commercial Division in March 2021. She was previously elected to the New York City Civil Court in 2012 and served as an Acting Supreme Court Justice from 2017 to 2020. Justice Crane also served in criminal court, New York County from January 2013 to January 2017, and in civil court, New York County from January 2017 to July 2017.

Prior to taking the bench, Justice Crane served as Principal Court Attorney to Justice Karla Moskowitz in both the New York County Commercial Division and the First Department Appellate Division. Justice Crane began her legal career as a commercial litigator in private practice, first at Hughes Hubbard & Reed LLP and then at Kasowitz, Benson, Torres & Friedman LLP.

Justice Crane is actively involved with the New York State Bar Association, serving on the Commercial and Federal Litigation Section’s Executive Committee.

Justice Crane received her Bachelor of Arts degree, cum laude, from Brandeis University in 1986, and her Juris Doctor degree from Cornell Law School in 1991.